When your young cat was a small kitten and you asked yourself, “Why does my kitten have bad breath?” the answer was usually that they were teething or ate something questionable.
Now that you have a teen cat, you can’t blame teething for the stinky breath, also called halitosis in cats.
What causes bad breath in young cats?
In young cats, consistently bad breath usually has a medical cause, such as periodontal disease, stomatitis or upper respiratory diseases.
Periodontal disease
Young cats can develop periodontal disease before they’re 1 year old. By the time cats are over 4 years old, the majority of them have periodontal disease.
When your young cat eats, plaque begins to form on the teeth. As plaque and tartar build under the gums, the associated bacteria cause decay of the tissues that support the teeth. This can cause foul breath. As the condition worsens, the gums may recede and the cat may lose teeth.
Stomatitis
Stomatitis is a very painful condition in which the mucous membranes of the mouth (gums, tongue, inner surfaces of lips, floor and/or roof of the mouth) become inflamed. Stomatitis in cats is currently thought to be caused by an overreaction of the immune system to the bacteria in dental plaque. Cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are more likely to develop stomatitis. The gums will often bleed, contributing a metallic smell to the young cat’s halitosis.
Stomatitis can develop at any age, but it usually develops after the adult teeth grow in and progressively worsens as the cat ages.
Upper respiratory diseases
Cats with upper respiratory diseases, such as herpesvirus or calicivirus, can have recurrent episodes that cause conjunctivitis, sneezing and oral ulcers. Ulcers or sores in the mouth may contribute to halitosis. Significant discharge in the nose or throat also contributes to stinky breath.
Other causes of bad breath that are less common in young cats include kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes and oral tumors.
How to treat a young cat’s bad breath
If you notice that your young cat’s breath is bad without an obvious cause (such as something they ate), it’s best to contact your VCA care team for an evaluation. They can perform an exam to determine if there is an oral cause for halitosis. How to fix a kitten’s bad breath depends on the underlying cause.
Treatment for periodontal disease in young cats
For periodontal disease, treatment is usually a dental cleaning. For cats, this is an anesthetic procedure that allows the veterinarian to perform a full examination of the mouth, take x-rays of the teeth and clean all surfaces of the teeth (including under the gumline). If there’s a fractured tooth, it may need to be extracted or an advanced treatment like a root canal may be recommended.
Treatment for stomatitis in young cats
Stomatitis in cats can be difficult to treat. Cats with stomatitis often need more frequent dental cleanings with tooth extractions. It’s not uncommon for cats with significant stomatitis to have all of their teeth extracted. Some cats with stomatitis can be managed with frequent cleanings, twice daily brushing of teeth and specific mouthwashes.
Treatment for URIs causing halitosis in young cats
Cats with secondary bacterial infections contributing to halitosis are treated with antibiotics. Ulcers in the mouth may be treated with topical anesthetics and pain medications. In some cases, antiviral medications may also be recommended.
How to prevent bad breath in young cats
Regular dental care is the best way to prevent bad breath in your young cat. The ideal recommendation is to brush your cat’s teeth once daily and no less than three times per week. However, brushing a cat’s teeth isn’t always the easiest task, particularly if they weren’t trained to accept tooth brushing as a young kitten.
Other steps you can take to protect your cat’s oral health include:
- Giving dental treats
- Using water additives
- Using dental wipes
- Feeding a prescription dental diet
- Getting preventative cleanings performed by your veterinarian
Other ways to prevent halitosis in your young cat include:
- Getting an annual wellness exam with routine lab work to monitor for systemic health concerns
- Keeping your pet’s vaccines updated to prevent infectious disease
- Preventing exposure to FIV by keeping your cat indoors
To keep your kitten's teeth sparkling, review how to brush your cat’s teeth.
